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Shubhanjana Das

A literature lover and a fashion enthusiast, I dabble in fashion to merge my two loves. I get lost at grocery stores and find myself in shoe stores. When I'm not scrolling through Instagram, I like to live life out of a backpack and travel the country..

Kunal Rawal Takes Over The Iconic Rhythm House For His Second Flagship Store

Kunal Rawal threw open the doors to his second flagship store in the iconic Rhythm House in Kala Ghoda to the urban, couture-loving men. The store is a reimagination of design of all sorts.

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The art and fashion hub of Mumbai will now boast of yet another star couturier making his entry as Kunal Rawal steps foot in South Bombay with his second flagship store at Kala Ghoda. As astonishing and fastidious as his SS’19 collection, Rawal took over the iconic Rhythm House which stood proudly in the heart of the city all these years. With the store, Kunal Rawal and the stalwart architect Rooshad Shroff have transformed it in an awe-strikingly tasteful manner that resonates with the brand’s philosophy to the last inch.

Kunal Rawal

Kunal Rawal

Kunal Rawal

Kunal Rawal with Rooshad Shroff

Kunal Rawal

Anil Kapoor

Kunal Rawal

Harshvardhan Kapoor

An evening to celebrate the launch of the store at Kalaghoda was hosted by Kunal Rawal on Friday 25th January 2019, in association with Johnnie Walker The Journey. The store launch brought together the who’s who of the city along with stars from the tinsel town. In attendance were the Kapoor family’s Sonam, Harshvardhan, Anil, Sunita, and Maheep Kapoor. Besides, Milind Deora, Dia Mehta, Roshni & Rahul Jhaveri, Ashiesh Shah, Arundhati De, Anandita De, Maneka Thadani, Avinash Gowarikar, Antara Marwaha, Pooja & Aarti Shetty, Tanya Ghavri were also seen admiring the collection and the swanky new store. Mohit Marwaha, Harshvardhan Kapoor and Dino Morea sported customized jackets by Rawal while Sonam Kapoor, Lisa Mishra, and Mira Kapoor were seen rocking chic androgyny from the label. 

Kunal Rawal

Kunal Rawal with Mira Kapoor

Kunal Rawal

Sonam Kapoor in Kunal Rawal

Kunal Rawal

Maheep Kapoor

The very first glance at the store is a visual testament to the fact that this particular space wasn’t a chance encounter for the designer. The grey walls, teakwood flooring, and 25ft high ceiling are an effort at striking the balance between transformation and preservation of the space which has been an important identity to the city. New age details such as motorized racks which allow for the space below to be freed, custom made tactile indicators in the form of Morse Code to express the brand name are all signifiers of the amalgam of heritage with modern-day industrial grunge. The cutting edge conveyor belt for Kunal to take clients through collections during personal appointments, modern brass fittings, metal  table with detailing of armour lines and french knots that are signature brand elements and a large marble cctv, all represent Kunal Rawal’s keen attention to fine details and the brand’s ethos of reinterpretation, something we see incorporated in his SS ’19 Collection as well, as seen on the models during the store launch, showcasing an edit of the collection. The anti-trend approach has allowed the designer to direct his attention and creative inventiveness to flexibility and practicality, an ethic that weaves every garment and makes Kunal Rawal one of the finest and comme il faut when it comes to menswear.

Kunal Rawal

Dino Morea in Kunal Rawal

Kunal Rawal

Models in Kunal Rawal

 

Kunal Rawal

Dino Morea, Kunal Rawal, and Mohit Marwah

The Kunal Rawal man embodies minimalism, class, an unhurried charm, and is forward thinking at the same time. With over-shirt sherwanis, sleeveless jackets, signature cusp silhouettes and much more, and designs that reinterpret the basic foundation of the garment structure, the brand clearly aims to achieve much more than short-lived trends. The sherwanis, jackets, bundi sets, kurta sets, bandhgalas, waistcoats in numerous colourways and design variations allow multi-functionality for garments that are much more than just fashion statements; they become the mouthpiece for the wearer’s personality and his singular sense of style.

The maverick was quoted saying,

“I strongly believe that men should have a whole variety of designs, colours and silhouettes to choose from at a store that is focused on menswear. I’m so excited to be coming to South Bombay, and what better location than Kala Ghoda, since it’s not only the fashion and arts district but also one of few areas in Bombay where one can walk around to soak in the rich cultural vibe.  Opening my second store at a landmark that resonates with the contemporary aesthetic of the brand, is a dream come true!”

 

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